“This event allows some of the best U.S. players eligible for next year’s NHL Draft the chance to showcase their talent on a national stage,” said Jim Johannson, USA Hockey’s assistant executive director of hockey operations. “With input from NHL Central Scouting, this game will feature future stars of the NHL, as over 120 alumni of the event have already been selected, including Buffalo’s recent first-round selections in Jack Eichel and Casey Mittelstadt. Fans may also get a chance to see some players who could very well be back here in Buffalo representing the U.S. in the World Juniors this December.”

Each year the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game assembles the top U.S. players who are eligible for the upcoming NHL Draft. Following last year’s game, 24 players that participated in the contest went on to be chosen in the 2017 NHL Draft, including Casey Mittelstadt, the most valuable player in last year’s CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game who was the first American chosen when the Buffalo Sabres selected him eighth overall.

Among the 42 skaters are 17 players who have represented the United States internationally. Last April, defenseman Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) and forwards Joel Farabee (Cicero, N.Y.), Brady Tkachuk (St. Louis, Mo.), and Oliver Wahlstrom (Quincy, Mass.) helped the U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team capture the gold medal at the 2017 International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Men’s World Championship in Poprad and Spisska Nova Ves, Slovakia.

NOTES: Collectively, 16 states are represented on the roster, including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Michigan leads all states with nine players while Minnesota ranks second with seven … Thirty-four players have ties to the United States Hockey League, the top junior league in the U.S., including 17 players associated with USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan … Players selected to compete in the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game were chosen by USA Hockey in conjunction with NHL Central Scouting … Forwards Brady Tkachuk and Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Quinn Hughes played in the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, in early August … U.S. Hockey Hall of Famers Chris Chelios and Brian Leetch were named head coaches for the 2017 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game on Aug. 14, 2017 … USA Hockey will unveil the CCM-designed uniforms for the game in September … To date, 127 alumni of the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game have been drafted in the NHL, highlighted by 30 first-round selections … Previous host sites for the CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game include Buffalo (2012, 2014, 2015), Pittsburgh (2013) and Philadelphia (2016).